Center Cut

Francis Ford Coppola Winery

Director's Cut Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2022

Predictably solid. Perfect every day drinker. Nice way to welcome in summer in Palo Alto! Terrific with our dinner of snapper asparagus & couscous! Cheers 🥂 — 3 months ago

Center of Effort

Rosso Corsa Edna Valley Pinot Noir 2021

Center of Effort – Rosso Corsa Pinot Noir 2021
Edna Valley, Central Coast, California – USA 🇺🇸

Overview
The Rosso Corsa (“racing red” in Italian) is Center of Effort’s bold expression of Pinot Noir, sourced from their organically farmed estate vineyards in Edna Valley. Known for its cool climate and marine influence, this AVA delivers Pinot with both freshness and intensity. The name nods to the classic Italian racing heritage, emphasizing speed, energy, and elegance — qualities mirrored in the wine.

Aromas & Flavors
Bursts of dark cherry, ripe strawberry, and pomegranate meet hints of baking spice, cocoa, and dried rose petals. As it opens, layers of earthy forest floor and a faint touch of savory herbs add dimension.

Mouthfeel
Silky yet energetic, medium-bodied with polished tannins and a vibrant acid backbone. The wine flows seamlessly across the palate, balancing plush fruit with savory complexity, finishing long and precise.

Winemaking Notes
Estate-grown fruit, hand-harvested, fermented in small lots with partial whole-cluster for structure and aromatics. Aged in French oak barrels (30–40% new), which imparts subtle vanilla and toast while preserving freshness.

Food Pairing
Versatile and food-friendly — pair with roasted duck breast, grilled salmon, mushroom risotto, or charcuterie with earthy cheeses. Its balance of fruit and savoriness allows it to pivot beautifully from lighter fare to richer dishes.

Verdict
A dynamic Pinot Noir that captures the spirit of Edna Valley with a nod to Italian flair. Sleek, energetic, and finely structured — a wine that feels both luxurious and alive in the glass.
— 10 months ago

Ted liked this

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1959

Dark tawny center with amber color and clear rims. Barely translucent. Massive nose of tobacco and Cuban cigar with notes of sweet black fruit, moist dark soil, unsweetened chocolate, pencil lead, old cedar desk wood and a little barnyard. Great mouth feel and texture. Very much alive. Opened and slow-ox’d for a few hours, then put in a decanter an hour before. This powered up all night. Last sip was the best. I’ve probably had more LB than any other Bordeaux (young and old, mostly old), and this was head and shoulders better than any previous bottle. Great juice! — 4 years ago

Ira, Eric and 22 others liked this
Ron R

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Wow.
Brent Young

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@Mike Saviage Very nice 👍

Domaine Berlancourt

Cuvée Les Champans Bourgogne Pinot Noir Rosé 2017

Nose has dried strawberry, dry-crushed granite, rose and cut tangerine.

Palate is under-ripe strawberry, dried tangerine peel, wet minerals with a medium length finish, decent acidity.

Not the same as the 2016, seems lesser or closed up a little. Still a few bottles in the cellar, we'll power through them before the end of Summer.
— 6 years ago

P, Eric and 27 others liked this

Hundred Suns

Old Eight Cut Pinot Noir 2017

Like minds this evening. Great Pinot made by a great winemaker, Grant Coulter — 7 years ago

Jeff OrlowskiJoe Roth
with Jeff and Joe
Jeff, Joe and 2 others liked this

Ameztoi

Getariako Txakolina Hondarrabi Zuri

always love txakolina. this one is super minerally, heavy dose of salt and brine, good bite of lime, and some pear to round it out. this is a really enjoyable, crisp bottle but is one touch too austere (dry + salty) for me. one extra bit of roundness and acid (if that makes any sense) to cut against the salt and this is a total home run but still very enjoyable. — 7 years ago

Ron liked this

Quarter Cut

Bourbon Barrel Aged California Cabernet Sauvignon

Used in Red wine beef short ribs. Very good drinking and cooking wine. — 5 months ago

Stag's Leap Wine Cellars

Artemis Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2003

2003 | Birthday weekend for my lovely wife.

Green on the nose, is there substantial Cabernet Franc or Petit Verdot for the last 25%? Cedar-y cherry notes to the palate, but short finish. Will more air rescue this bottle...?🤞 Double decanted with notes at 5H. (Drink 2005-2007?)

Paired to USDA Prime Strip Steaks (baseball-cut), Allen Bros. Chicago.
— 4 years ago

Doug, Iwan and 26 others liked this
John Bratincevic

John Bratincevic

Surprising!
Severn G

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Not too much IMHO, 2003 wasn't a reputable vintage.
Douglas Braun

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Warm vintage if I remember

Whitehaven

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2021

Grapefruit, green apple, and pear are front and center. Acidic with a medium finish and balanced on the palate. — 4 years ago

Daniel P., Juan and 16 others liked this

Domaine Henry Pellé

Menetou-Salon Morogues Pinot Noir Rosé 2018

No new notes, we adore this wine, drinking it by the case; it really sings when 3-4Y past vintage.

Nose has cherry skin, mashed strawberry and green melon.
Palate has fresh cut strawberry, orange zest and a chalky minerality. Medium length finish, great acid levels, touch of sweetness. $14.40!

A fun wine for an almost 80°F day in the Berkshires, atypical for early April.
— 5 years ago

Peter, Andrew and 31 others liked this

Center of Effort

Chardonnay 2014

Kirk F
9.0

When your kids start finding new wines. Brave new world! 🙌🏻 — 6 years ago

P, Dawn and 5 others liked this

Château Cantemerle

Haut-Médoc Red Bordeaux Blend 2008

Lyle Fass
9.4

Lovely nose, smoke, raspberry, tobacco, olive, herbs, juicy, balanced, pure, lovely tannins. Long. Mineral. Good cut. — 7 years ago

Mark, LM and 15 others liked this

Taittinger

Comtes de Champagne Grand Crus Brut Blanc de Blancs 2006

Lemony, brioche, rich but with cut, delicious and very hard to stop drinking. — 7 years ago

Shay, Mike and 7 others liked this

Quintessa

Illumination Sauvignon Blanc 2021

Ming L
9.2

A 50/30/20 blend of Sauvignon Blanc Musqué, Sauvignon Blanc, and Sémillon, aged in a mix of vessels.

The nose is more restrained than expected from Sauvignon Blanc Musqué, showing fewer overt tropical notes. Instead, it opens with white peach, lemon zest, fresh-cut herbs, and delicate white florals. The palate is rounded bordering on creamy yet energized by vibrant acidity and a pronounced chalky minerality. A subtle impression of ripe fruit sweetness lingers through the medium-length finish.

— 4 months ago

Tom and Bob liked this

Domaine du Gour de Chaulé

Cuvée Tradition Gigondas Grenache 2019

Delectable Wine
9.5

Deep magenta. A complex, intensely perfumed bouquet evokes black raspberry, kirsch and lavender, along with vibrant mineral and exotic spice flourishes. Incisive red and dark berry, bitter cherry and succulent herb flavors show fine detail and spicy cut. Chewy, slowly building tannins add shape and grip to a strikingly long, nervy finish that echoes the cherry and floral notes. All whole clusters. (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, January 2023) — 3 years ago

Modus Operandi Cellars

Center of Gravity Sauvignon Blanc 2019

Ron R
9.5

Single-barrel scarcity makes this a “must try.” It generates a meaningful event and a good disruption on the palate.
Green apples combine with melon and bright acidity - the signature of a typical SB. Moderately sweet. Serve it to those who appreciate uncommon excellence in wine. Approach the winery for this.
— 4 years ago

Tom, Shay and 43 others liked this
Ron R

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@Timothy Lynch, the Cali SB’s are excellent in terms of quality and value relative to Loire. Seek out Modus, Aesthete, Aperture, Brilliant Mistake, La Pelle all produce excellent, affordable SB’s.
Ron R

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@Jody Scharf l, definitely not lumpy in this regard, but a enjoy bending language in order to make a point 😀
Ron R

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I do which I could some comments back! Characters are sometimes inadvertently moved. Maybe a thorough read before hitting enter is another viable option…

Didier Dagueneau

Pur Sang Pouilly-Fumé Sauvignon Blanc 2005

Tasted blind. Light gold color. Exotic nose. Notes of citrus, grapefruit, tangerine, lemongrass, cut green apples and a little pineapple. Goes great with the cheese and snacks we have. I’m immediately in Sancerre world with my guess. Very mineral in it’s mouth feel, lots of acidity. I guess Cotat as the producer. This is a fun wine, and really well made. — 5 years ago

Hermes, S.R.Alexander and 18 others liked this
Ron R

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Glad this held up. I still have some in our cellar. And prior vintages...

Egon Müller

Scharzhofberger Kabinett Riesling 2011

Continuing the 2011 extravaganza with this light Spatlese. That's right! I didn't get it wrong... It's a light Spat. Too powerful and sweet to be a kabi in my opinion, but as a Spat - Glorious! The tug and pull between sugar and acid is at a deadlock. Brilliantly balanced. The nose is spicy, herbal, floral, and very typical of Egon. The palate is crystalline. Like sucking on a piece of slate that was used to cut lime, then rubbed with mango and preserved lemons. To finish, take a bite of the juiciest peach, then lick some rock salt. The finale is long, smooth, and begs for you to take another swig. Gone in no time at all! — 7 years ago

Ira, romo and 20 others liked this

Center of Effort

Edna Valley Pinot Noir 2014

2014 vintage. Bright red and blue fruits with a stout structure and a really nice finish. Needs. A good decant or another year or two to smooth out. Really nice though. — 7 years ago